2026 World Cup fever is heating up in Portugal with the first of two friendlies to be played on Saturday. The Seleção welcome Chile to Estádio Nacional do Jamor, the match to be played at 18:45 BST.
Roberto Martínez will be using the opportunity to test midfield combinations due to the absence of PSG’s Vitinha and João Neves.
Portugal didn’t concede a goal in the previous two friendlies against Mexico and the USA.
More clean sheets wouldn’t go astray as the manager continues to search for his best central defensive partnership.
Portugal Squad
Ricardo Velho was called up as the fourth goalkeeper in the event that Diogo Costa, José Sá or Rui Silva pick up an injury.
Matheus Nunes missed training on Thursday and Friday due to gastroenteritis and João Félix did individual training in the gym before joining the group. Martínez said: "Unfortunately, Matheus Nunes is not yet fit to train. It's not the time to take risks. Let's hope he's available for the game against Nigeria. As for João Félix, it's a different case; I think he'll be available for the Chile game."
Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos endured a long season at Paris Saint-Germain who recently won the UEFA Champions League. They will join the squad after the match and be integrated for the clash against Nigeria in Leiria.
The manager talked about the impact of the quartet: "The two-time European champions will be a great help because they believe anything is possible. It was the same a year ago. Nuno Mendes was the best player in the Nations League final against Spain, Vitinha had a very good final four, Gonçalo Ramos is an example because of his attitude, and João Neves is at the top of the world."
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Nélson Semedo, João Cancelo, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo
Midfielders: Rúben Neves, Samuel Costa, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva
Forwards: João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo
Chile Form
Chile have fallen a long way off the pace after winning back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016. They didn’t score a goal at the 2024 edition and were unable to qualify for a third straight World Cup.
They never looked likely in a calamitous campaign, finishing last in South America. They won only twice in 18 matches, scoring nine goals with 27 conceded.
Nicolás Córdova stepped up from the youth team to take over on a caretaker basis in July 2025. He is still there, attempting to reboot the project and move away from the generation that included Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas.
Chile won three friendlies in late 2025, two over Peru and one against Russia. They returned to action in March, beating Cape Verde 4-2 in Auckland.
La Roja remained in Auckland where they suffered a 4-1 defeat against New Zealand. Darío Osorio was sent off in the 27th minute, Gonzalo Tapia coming off the bench to score a late consolation.
Head-to-Head Record
Portugal first met Chile at the 1928 Olympic Games, a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam. Two friendlies followed, Eusébio scoring the final goal in a 4-1 win in 1972 and Silvestre Varela opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw in 2011.
The last clash came in the 2017 Confederations Cup semi-finals. Neither team could break the deadlock in extra time before Ricardo Quaresma, João Moutinho and Nani couldn't convert penalties, Chile winning the shootout in Kazan.
Roberto Martínez Quotes
"The results of friendly matches aren't about the friendly matches themselves, but about the preparation we get from them. Tomorrow against Chile we want to win, but that's not the priority. We'll use all 11 substitutions and the focus is more on individual players.
"The result is everything you're adding to the team. In March, we worked at altitude and now we're going to play in Houston, so we decided to arrive in the USA as late as possible because we could work here on what was needed. Therefore, we're using the experience I already have from 3 World Cups.
"The important thing is to win. I think our team, with the talent we have, has a better chance of winning. The focus is on playing well so we have everything under control. We want to win well, controlling the ball and the space, and that's what playing well is all about. I wholeheartedly agree with that."
"The experience of having played seven games in the World Cup in Russia made me realize that you need great tactical flexibility that allows you to adapt and not have closed and very rigid tactical aspects. Therefore, we will also work on some defensive aspects in these matches, but flexibility will be very important."
"When we make decisions, there has to be a great balance between what is subjective and what is objective, in everything that we can measure, and today in football we can measure everything, and we have to make decisions based on that."
"The focus now is more individual, and it's a continuation of the partnership that began in May. The opponents we're going to face now already have similarities to what we'll find in the World Cup. Chile has aspects of combativeness and South American football similar to Colombia. Then there's the collective preparation for the three group stage matches. Finally, it's very important to play in front of our fans, both at Jamor and against Nigeria."
"Chile will demand a lot from us without the ball, and I think it will be difficult in transitions. I love Chilean football because I followed the 2010 World Cup closely with coach Bielsa."
Nélson Semedo Quotes
“The position I play is quite demanding, especially with the conditions we'll have in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, we've also come from periods of great physical strain.
“We have the case of Nuno, who finished with the national team after we won the Nations League, then went straight to the Club World Cup, and then started the season with PSG. I think all of this led to the coach's decision (to select five full-backs).
“I feel good, quite good. I had some injuries during the year, but I prepared well. I had time to prepare myself to be here body and soul with the National Team.
“The competitiveness in the position only brings good things to the National Team. Having this competitiveness will only make us even better and will make all of us, in our position and in others, try to give our best.”
O Nélson de 18 anos estará orgulhoso certamente 🥹#VaiDarPortugal | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/cpz0pjmewr
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) June 3, 2026
“I remember we've played with a back three and we've also played with a back four. We're prepared. We're professional players and we have to be able to play in whatever system the coach wants.
“In that respect, we're doing well. I feel good and however long I have to play, whether it's 10 minutes, one minute, 90 minutes or just training, I'll give my best because I also think it will make all my teammates improve and will make Portugal better.
“I think we have a very good, spectacular generation. We have a mix of young players with a lot of experience and other older players who also have a lot of quality and experience. We have a great group and obviously we have to be responsible.”
